SHANE LOWRY used every word in his vocabulary to express his love for Tommy Fleetwood after winning the Ryder Cup.
Two years after humiliation at Whistling Straits, Europe avenged that defeat in style by routinely disposing of the USA in Rome.
Shane Lowry was in full celebration mode after Europe won the Ryder Cup
NBCAnd at one point, Tommy Fleetwood became the subject of his celebrations[/caption]
It was Fleetwood who clinched the trophy for Luke Donald’s team with a 3&1 win over Rickie Fowler in Sunday’s singles.
The two teams finished the day with five wins apiece and two draws, as Europe beat the defending champions 16.5-11.5.
Despite falling three shots behind to Jordan Spieth, Shane Lowry rallied to draw his match to cap off what was just his second Ryder Cup.
And the joy and emotion he exhibited in the celebrations afterwards illustrated just how much it meant to him.
He had just dried off from a champagne shower from pal Rory McIlroy and was being interviewed by NBC, Lowry was embraced by teammate Fleetwood.
At that point, the Clara man grabbed the Englishman and went in for a kiss, all the while screaming: “I F***ING LOVE YOU!”
His X-rated expression of admiration floored Fleetwood, as well as legions of fans on social media.
One fan, who goes by ‘Spookey Lukey’ shared the clip to Twitter, quipping: “Shane Lowry might already be sloshed”.
Another hailed: “Shane Lowry literally just grabbed a team mate, in the middle of an interview, shouted “I f(((ing love you!” And then stepped right back into the interview.
“What a man”
‘Andrew’ said: “Shane Lowry getting out an “I f***ing love you” to Tommy Fleetwood on mic and on camera is so great.”
‘Christopher’ laughed: ““I f***ing LOVE YOU!!” This was always a dangerous game putting a mic in Shane Lowry’s face rn”
EMOTIONS ON SHOW
By contrast, the emotions that fellow Irishman Rory McIlroy showed after his singles win over Sam Burns earlier in the day were laced with relief and redemption.
The 34-year-old was left in tears after Europe’s hammering at the hands of the USA three years ago.
And while the waterworks were on show at the Marco Simone Golf Club, the context around them were far different.
He told Sky Sports: “Ever since Whistling Straits, I was so disappointed in my performance there so to come here to Rome and get four points for the team means a lot to me and hopefully we can just get it done.
“I feel like it’s a great bounce-back for us after what happened. It’s an incredible team, a young team and one that will be around for a long time, The support has been unbelievable.
“It’s also been a great week for me personally. I am now going to go and follow boys and get them in the house and get this over and done with.
“We have played the back nine pretty well this week so I have full confidence in the boys to get the job done.”
The Holywood man had gone into Sunday on the back of controversy at the back end of Saturday’s foursomes.
He ended the day by losing to a team of Patrick Cantlay and Wyndham Clark; the only match he did not win over the weekend.
There was controversy when it appeared as if LaCava was waving his hat as McIlroy was lining up his final putt.
And the angry scenes carried on in the car park outside the club, where McIlroy appeared to be furiously pointing and shouting at someone behind American caddie Jim “Bones” Mackay.
McIlroy shouted: “It’s a f*****g disgrace, he can’t get away with it.”
He was then held back by Shane Lowry before being bundled into a nearby car.
LaCava was waving his cap at home fans who had taunted Cantlay for not wearing his.
On Sunday, reports emerged that McIlroy had met LaCava to hash things out, a suggestion he strongly denied.
He said: “I haven’t met Joe.”
However, he did concede that the fiasco motivated him and his team on to victory, adding: “I was focused. I was very focused. I let it fuel me.
“I didn’t let it take away from what has been a fantastic week. I used that little incident last night to my advantage.
“It was a bit of a deflating finish last night but I think what transpired on that last green, it gave us a fire in our bellies to try and go out and get the job done today.”